Amusement device



Jan. l, 1935.

T. w. LoARlNG 1,986,152

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 29, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BATTERY WIRING T/mmas WLoa rin Jan. l, 1935. r. w.. LoARlNG 1,936,152

A'MUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 29, 195; s sheets-sheet l2v Hamas WLarnj Jan.'1,1935. f 'T w, LOARING 1,986,152

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed may 29, 193s 3' sheets-sheet s Winzer/rdn emmers ro IRGUIT ro ML rglLza z'nsuzz zwang' l new@ Hams ffl/.Ladri nj Patented 1,1935 l I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE`- l AMUSEMENT DEVICE Thomas W. Loaring, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor oi one-third to M. Chester Martin, and onethird to John W. Fischer, both of Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 29, 1933, Serial No. 673,498 12 Claims. (Cl. 273-123) This invention relates to roll-ball amusement through the lamp casing showing the picture vdevices to be called Jigsaw puzzalite or Rollpanels Vin position.

a-jig games -and played by rolling balls into Fig. is a plan view of the electrical ball pockets or apertures on a table surface for contacts,l the contact or support board being closing electrical contacts positioned therein shown fragmentally. i whereby Certain nOVel e'eetS, forming the fea- Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line tures of the game, may be brought about. 6-6 of Fig. 5. An Obi'eet 0f the invention iS t0 provide a Fig. 'l is a plan view of the electrical contact game of skill wherein the pocketing Vof balls reboard, the electric circuits associated therewith w sults in successively rendering visible by illubeing indicated diagrammatically. 10 mination, various irregular areas of apicture 8 is a wiring diagram illustrating the associated with each device, until Such picture working of the electrical relay and other means iS Complete, whereby the Working Out 0f the as operative at the completion oi a game. popular jig saw puzzle may be simulated lin a With reference to the drawings: the amusement l5 novel manner- 1 l means comprise a plurality of preferably elon- 15 Another object isv to provide for simultaneous gated tables, as many as'desirable, three being and competitive playing of .a number of the games shown herein as in operation, and indicated at 1,-' of this invention by use of a novel electrical relay 2 an 3. Y'lghe tables are provided with suitable system energized through a circuit distinct from under supports 4, and are each formed with a top the puzzle lighting circuit whereby, upon the 5, a bottom 6, which serves as part of the ball completion of a picture by one player, the lights return structure, and a contact board '1, slidably at the adversaries tables are extinguished and positioned between saidtop and bottom on lateral an audible signal further announces a winner. guides 8 attached to the inner faces of the side Another` object Vis to introduce an element of panels 9 of the tables'. It will be seen that the chance into the game described by a novel system tables are disposed at a' slight forwardly slanting v25 of cross wiring whereby one or more of the ,angle to eil'ect return of the playing balls 14 to contacts at one table energizev not only their the front or players ends of the tables, and likedirectly associated electric `lamps but also one wise because such angle for the playing surface or more lamps at adjacent tables whereby a has been found effective. A

3u player may inadvertently assist an opponent in The tabletops 5, adjacent their rear ends are 30 the completion of his picture. provided with ball receiving apertures or pock- Another object is the provision of novel means `ets 10 which may bedisposed according toa for releasing played balls from their pockets suitableplan, for example, the triangular formaand equally novel means for operating the retion shown.4 The sidepanels 9 extend above tops leases individually or collectively. v5 to preclude removal of the balls from their '35 Another object is vto produce means. of the tables. s Y character described in an efcient and p racti- The bottom 6, which may be co-extensive with cable manner. rthe tops, receives the balls passing into apertures These and other objects are attained` by the 10,`the latter being then carriedA by gravity to- 40 means described herein and illustrated 'in the ward the front of the table. lIn order to con- 40 accompanying drawings in which: j centrate and render the balls accessible for the l Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken player, a guide strip 1l may be DOS'JOIIed edgeaway, of a number of the amusement devices wise between the table top and bottom, extending of the present invention with portions of the' angularly from a panel 9 on one side of a table associated pictures shownas they might appear to a point'adjacent the front corner of the op- 45 in the playing 0f the games.' posite side of the table, into which corner .the

Fig. 2` is a cross sectional view taken longireleased balls are guided to abut the front paneltudinally of one of the playing tables,rshowing 12 of the table. An arm hole 13 is provided lnv also the operating means for the ball release and the top 5 at this corner, through which a player support means, certain parts being shown' conreaches to procure the ballsli as they are played. 50

ventionally. l The contact board '1, which likewise serves as a .Figl 3 is a front elevational view of the'lamp ball support and release member, is of a size4 to casing for illuminating the jig saw puzzle panels, extend above and .below the area coveredby the the latter `being removed from the casing. ball receiving apertures 10, and is provided with 5: Fig. 4 isa longitudinal cross sectionalview a plurality of openings 151mg. v2)`ifeitlil'me'lili into the ball return means. During play, however, non-apertured portions of said board are disposed beneath the ball pockets. A springl urges and normally retains the contact board inthe playing position just mentioned. Suitable stops 17, associated with guides 8, limit forward movement of boards 7. l

The means for shifting the board 7 to and from release positionv may comprise a handle 18 (Fig. 2) attached to the rear end of the board and projecting outwardly of the table through an aperture in the rear panel 19, and through' a suitable guide block 20. It is obvious that the contact boards associated with a group of tables may be individually shifted by means of the handles 18. It is desirable however, to move them simultaneously and for this purpose, each handle 18 at its outer end has a swivel connection as at 21 with the upper end of an arm 22. The latter has its lower end fixed to an elongated bar 23 extending along the rear ends of av group of ltables and preferably disposed below the ground surface in a suitable trough 24. Bar 23 is adapted to be turned on its longitudinal axis whereby the contact boards 7 are shifted through the medium of handle 18 and arm 22. For turning the bar, a lever 25 may be provided, adapted to be operated manually or by use of a solenoid 26 energized by a suitable electric circuit 27 and switch 28.' The arm.29 of the solenoid has one end pivotally connected to the 1ever`25, as at 30.

.Associated with each table, adjacent the inner end thereof, is an upright opaque casing 31 (Figs. 3 and 4) having a rear wall 32 and edge walls 33. 'I'he interior of the casing is divided into three sections by the opaque main partitions 34 and 35, and in each of said sections a number of irregular opaque partitions 36 extend from front to rear of the casing and divide said sections intov a number of irregular small compartments, there being an equal number of the latter in each of the three main compartments. Glass panels 37, 38 and 39 are provided, one each for covering one ofsaid casing sections, the panels lying against the outer edges of the partitions described. The rear wall 32 of the casing has electric light sockets therein and suitable contacts 40 on its rear. Said sockets are adapted to hold an electric lamp 41 in each of the small casing compartments. The glass panels 37, 38 and 39 are each provided with a normally invisible picture adapted to be ren'- dered visible, .one irregular area at a time, by lighting of the lamps in their compartments.

This last is accomplished by the persons playingthe games, and for this purpose the contact board 7 has fastened. thereon a plurality of elec- Atrical spring contacts 42, one corresponding with each of said compartment-lighting lamps 41.

Contacts 42, as shown in Fig.' 7, are disposed, each one forwardly of one of the ball release openings, so that when the contact -board is in its nortures 10 for releasing the balls, as previously described.

y The contacts 42 andassociated wiring are shown rather conventionally in Fig. 2, but in Figs. 5 and 6 said contacts are, detailed and are shown as made up of a top metal strip 43, an intermediate metal strip 44, and a bottom metal strip 45. 'Ihe rsttwo are spaced by a short piece of insulation screws pass.

46 permitting contactA ofgthe two strips by pressure on the upper strip. Bottom strip 45 is completely insulated from strip 44 by insulation 47. At one end, all the metal strips may be cut to provide diversely projecting points to which wiring may be conveniently attached. v

The spring contacts are secured, adjacent their pointed ends, to the contact boaxd 7 by means of screws 48, and are held clear of said board by spacing strips 49 (Fig. 2) through which said The free resilient ends of the contacts are adapted to be pressed down against transverse bus bars 50, one of the latter being xed to board 7 along each row of contacts and all connected at one end to an angularly extendingbus bar 51. i The latter is connected, as at 52v (Fig. 7) with a suitable electrical source 53. The bottom strip 45 of each contact 42 is electrically vconnected withone of the electric lamps 41 in the picture casing from which lamps suitable return wiring 54, connected with source 53, com-Y when a ball is rolled into one of the pockets, the

contact, that is, strip 45 thereof, will be pressed against the adjacent bus bar to complete a circuit, light the associated lamp in the picture casing, and illuminate a portion of one of the picture panels 37, 38, or 39.

In this connection it might here be noted that fifteen pockets would usually be provided on each table with eachve thereof corresponding to one of the said pictures, and suitably correlated therewith by indicia (Fig. 1). For example, as shown, the rearmost row of pockets marked 1, relates to the iop picture which may be similarly marked. The second-last row of pockets, and one in the third-last row, all marked 2, relate to the second picture, and the remainder of the pockets relate to the bottom picture. Usually the completion, by illumination, of one of said pictures, would constitute a game.

The rst of a group of players to complete a picture would be adjudged the winner and in order to effectively terminate a game a second electrical circuit and a system of electrical relays, conditioning the light circuits described, are utilized.

'I'his second circuit may have a six volt battery 55 (Figs. 7 and 8) as a source. The contact members 43 and 44 of each of said groups of contacts comprising five each, are connected in series as shown by the short lines connecting said contacts in Fig. 7.- 'I-'hese vegroup circuits are each completed, through wires 56 and 57, when all five contacts of one group have been closed by balls rolled thereunto. The player rst closing such group would be the winner and in order that his picture may remain illuminated and all others rendered invisiblefthe relay system in Fig. 8 is utilized.

For the present purpose, it will be considered that the topmost iivef group of contacts at table 3, has been closed, the variance there occurring to be explained shortly hereafter. Current will n ow flow from battery 55, through wires 58 and 580 through the group 59 of closed contacts. through wire 60, into and energizing a relay 61.

associated with the table in question. From contact against contact arms 77 and '18, respectively, which control relays 79 and 80; These relays control subsidiary switches heretofore mentioned. These switches 81 and 82, are normally in the on position as illustrated by the switch 83 at winning table No. 3, and through said switches the electric lamp vcircuit normally flows.

switches so that the lamps at all tablesexcept table 3, and'at which the jig saw pictures have not been completed, are turned oi.

Thus, by the means just described,` abuzzer' terrupted by a wire 84 which continues over into wire 85 at tablev 1.s The associated contact 86.

has been closed by the player at thistable'and hence the current continues back along wire 87 into wire 88 at table 1, and thence through-the circuit heretofore described. Thus, inadvertently,

, the player at table 1 has lit a lamp forl his oppo- 75 regular partition-edgestherebehind to 'appear in" nent at table 3. The analogous wiring represented in Fig. 8 is for the similar purposes, and, as will be readily understood, such wiring may be modified a great number of ways, one typical example being deemed suiiicient for the purpose of explanation.

In Fig. 7,- the wiring group represented at 894 1. A roll ball amusement device comprising a table with a top having a plurality of apertures.

adjacent one end, a plurality of electric normally open spring contacts disposed one each immediately beneath one of said apertures, a casing associated withy the table, an uninterrupted 4and completelytranslucent front on the casing and provided with a normally invisible picture, a plurality of irregularpartitions in the casing extend- ,ing from front to rear thereof and having their forward edges in contact against the inner face oi' said translucent front, said partitions dividing the interior of the casing into compartments. an

electric lamp in each compartment and electric ally connected one each with one of said contacts, an electrical circuit embracing'said lamps and contacts, and a plurality of balls adapted to be rolled into said apertures and to close said V1cuntacts'whereby said compartments are succes-v sively lighted. such illumination causing irregular portions ofsaid Vpicture correspondingl to `the ir- It will be.

the semblance of jig saw puzzle segments until the whole picture is completed.-

2. A roll ball amusement device comprising a Atable with a top having a plurality of apertures adjacent one end, a plurality of electric normally open spring contacts disposed one each immediately beneath one of saidl apertures, a casing associated with the table, an uninterrupted and completely translucent front on the casing and provided with a normally invisible picture, a plurality of irregular partitions in the casing extending from front -to rear thereof and having their forward edges in contact against the inner face of saidtranslucent front, said partitions di` iriding the interior of the casing into compartments, an electric lamp in each compartment and electrically connected one each with one of said But the energizing of relays 79 and 80, opens these contacts, an electrical circuit embracing said lamps and contacts, a plurality of balls adapted sively lighted, such illumination causing irregular portions of said picture corresponding to the irregular partition edges therebehind to appear in the semblance of jig sawpuzzle segments until Vthe whole picture is completed, and means for displacing the balls from theA contacts and for returning them to the opposite end of the table.

3. A roll-ball amusement device comprising, a table with a top having) therein 'a plurality of ball-receiving apertures adjacent one end, a ball return member disposed beneath the table top, a board positioned between the `table top and return member and underneath said apertures, a plurality of electrical normally open spring contacts on said board and normally disposed one each immediately beneath one of said apertures, a casing adjacent the table, a completely illuminable and uninterrupted glass front on the casing and provided with a normally invisible picture, a plurality of irregular partitions in the casing extending from front to rear thereof and having their forward edges in contact against the inner face of said translucent front, said partitions dividing the interior of the casing into a plurality of compartments, an electric lamp in each compartment, electrical' connection between each one of said lamps and oneof the contacts on Vsaid board, a suitable electrical source and circuit embracing said lamps and board contacts. a plurality of balls adapted to be rolled into said apertures and to close the electrical contacts associated therewith whereby said compartments may be successively lighted and segments of said picture corresponding to the irregular partition -edges therebehind made successively to appear until ,the whole is illuminated, said electrical con.

tact board' being provided with a plurality ofI apertures registrable with said ball apertures and .normally out of alignment therewith, and means lfor the shifting of said` contact board to eiiect registration of said sets of apertures and passage of the balls into said ball return members.

4. A competitive roll ball game comprising `a plurality of tables each formedwith a top having adjacent one end a plurality of ball receiving apertures, aball return member disposed Ibeneath the table top, a board `positioned between `tlie table top and return ymember and Vunderneath said apertures, a plurality of electrical normally open springy contacts on said lboard"ancl-fnorx'nally ydisposed one each beneath'one of said apertures, eachl of .said contacts comprisingjtwfpairs' of contact members, a plurality of "electric lamps associated with'each table and electrically conof contact members, the latter being connected in series, an audible signal embraced in said last' circuit, a plurality of balls adapted to be rolled into said apertures and to rest upon and close said contact's whereby the lamps may be successively lighted, closing of all the contacts resulting in energizing of the audible signal, cross wiring from one or more of the lamp contacts on one table to one or more of the lamp contacts at other tables whereby one pair of said contacts may light its associated lamp and lamps at such other tables, an electrical relay system energized by said battery circuit and conditioning the lamp circuits whereby the lighting of all lamps at one table results in de-energizing of the lamps at the other tables, each of said contacts boards being provided with a plurality of apertures registrable with said ball apertures and normally out of alignment therewith, and means for the shifting individually and collectively of said contact boards to effect registration of said sets of apertures and passage of the balls into the ball return member. Y

5. A competitive roll ball game comprising a plurality of tables, each table being formed with a top having therein a plurality of ball receiving apertures adjacent one end, a ball return member disposed beneath the table top, a board positioned between the table top and return member and underneath said apertures, a plurality of electrical normally open spring contacts on said board and normally disposed one each beneath one of said apertures, each of said contacts comprising two pairs .of contact members, a casing associated with the table, a glass front on the casing and provided with a normally invisible picture, a plurality of partitions in the casing extending from front to rear thereof and dividing the interior of the casing into a plurality of compartments, an electric lamp in ea'ch compartment, each one of said lamps being electrically connected with one of said pairs of contact members, an electric house circuit embracing' said lamps and the associated pairs of contact members, a battery and a circuit embracing said other pairs of contact members, the latter being connected in series, an audible signal embraced in said last circuit, a plurality of balls adapted to be rolled into said apertures and to rest upon and close said spring contacts whereby said compart- Y ments may be successively illuminated, closing of all the contacts resulting in energizing oi' said audible signal, cross wiring from one or more of the lamp contacts on one table to one or more of the lamp contacts on adjacent tables whereby one pair of lamp contacts may light its associated lamp 'and lamps at other tables, an electrical relay system energized by said battery circuit and conditioning .the lamp circuits whereby the completion of one of said pictures by lighting of the associated' lamps results in de-energizing of the lamps at the-other tables, each of said contact boards being provided with a plurality of apertures registrable with said ball apertures and normally out of alignment therewith, and means for the sluiting individually and collectively oi' said contact boards to effect registration of said sets of apertures and passage of. the balls into said ball return members.

6. -A roll ball game of competition and chance and comprising a plurality of tables eachformed with a top having a plurality of ball receiving apertures adjacent one end, a plurality of electrical normally open contacts disposed one beneath each of saidapertures, a plurality of electric lamps associated with the table and electrically connected one each with one of said contacts, an electric circuit embracing said lamps andcontacts, a. plurality of balls adapted to be rolledinto said apertures and to close said contacts whereby said lamps may be successively illuminated, and wiring means associated with the various tables whereby a player at one table by closing a contact at his .table inadvertently i1- luminates one of the lamps at an adversarys table for introducing an element of chance into the game. 4

'7. A competitive roll ball game comprising a plurality of tables each formed with a top having I a plurality of ball receiving apertures adjacent one end, a plurality of electrical normally open contacts positioned one beneath each of said apertures, eachV contact comprising two pairs of contact members, a plurality of electric lamps associated with the table and electrically connected one each with one of said pairs of contact members, an electric circuit embracing said lamps and their associated pairs of contact members, a plurality of balls adapted to be rolled into said apertures and to close said contacts whereby the associated lamps may be successively illuminated., a second electrical circuit embracing the other pairs of said contact members at all the tables. and an electrical relay system energized by said second circuit and conditioning the'lamp circuits at all tables whereby the lighting of all lamps at one table results in de-energizing of the lamps at the other tables for indicating a winner and terminating the game.

8. A competitive roll ball game comprising a plurality of tables each formed with a top having a plurality of ball receiving apertures adjacent one end, a plurality of electrical normally open contacts positioned one beneath each of said apertures, each contact comprising two pairs of `contact members, a plurality of electric lamps associated with the table and electrically connected one each with one of said pairs of contact members, an electric circuit embracing said lamps and their associated pairs of contact members, a plurality of balls adapted to be rolled into said apertures and to close saidV contacts whereby the associated lamps may be successively illuminated, a second electrical circuit embracing the other pairs of said contact members at all the tables, an audible electric signal embraced in said second circuit, and an electrical relay system energized by said second circuit and conditioning the lamp circuits at all tables whereby lighting of all lamps at one table results in de-energizing of the lamps at the other tables, and simultaneously in energizing of the signal at said one table, for indicating a winner and terminating a game.

9. In combination, a plurality of roll ball tables 10. An amusement or game bar and at the other end having a swivel connection with one of said handle members, and means for turning said bar on its longitudinal axis for moving said slidable boards to ball supporting and vrelease positions.

device comprising a supporting structure, a plurality of normally open electricalcontacts attached to and exposed on the supporting structure at a distance from a player's position, means adapted when properly directed by a player to bear against and close said contacts, an uninterrupted and completely translucent member associated with the table and having thereon a normally invisible picture, electric lamps disposed adjacent said translucent member and electrically connected one each with one of said contacts, an electric circuit embracing saidlamps and contacts, and means adapted to concentrate the light of each lamp against a diierent restricted irregular area of said translucent member to render visible the picture. and simulate the development thereof after the manner of a jig saw puzzle as said contacts are successively closed by va player.

11. Competitive game means comprising a plu.-

` rality of supporting structures, a plurality of normally open electrical contacts attached to and exposed on each of said structures at a distance from the players positions, means adapted when properly directed by a player to bear against and close said contacts, an uninterrupted and completely translucent member associated with each table and having thereon a normally invisible picture, electric lamps disposed adjacent said translucentjmember and electrically connected one each with one of said contacts, an Aelectric circuit embracing said lamps and contacts, means adapted to concentrate the light the tables, arms each fixed at one end to said of each lamp against a different restricted irregular area of the associatedtranslucent member to render visible the picture thereon and to simulate Vthe development of the picture after the manner of a jig saw puzzle as said contacts are successively 'closed by a player, and means conditioning the lamp circuits whereby upon completion of one of said pictures the lamps of the incompleted pictures are extinguished for terminating a game.

12. Competitive game means comprising a plurality of supporting structures, a plurality of normally open electrical contacts attached to and ex posed on each of said structures at a distance from the players positions, means adapted when properly directed by a player to bear against and close said contacts, an uninterrupted and completely translucent member associated with each table and having thereona normally invisible picture, electric lamps disposed adjacent said translucent member and electrically connected one each with one of said contacts, an electric circuit embracing said lamps and contacts, means adapted to concentrate the light of each lamp against a different restricted irregular area o! the associated translucent member to render visi ble the* picture thereon and to simulate the development of the picture after the manner of a vjig saw puzzle as said contacts are successively incompleted pictures are extinguished for terminating a game.

THOMAS W. LOARING. 

